do great minds think alike?

considering cognitive diversity

Making unseen business issues

visible is like discovering that

stars also shine in the day time.

-Ned Herrmann

diversity is…

difference

• relational• generative

difference changes social groups…

Introducing or increasing difference in a social group triggers:

• we vs. they mentality• stereotyping• in-group favoritism• inter-group conflict• satisfaction, performance, turnover get

worse

inclusion is…

Our ability to include difference and utilize the resources that

we have access to.

• fairness of employment practices

• openness to difference• inclusion in decision making

If you do not intentionally

include, you will unintentionally

exclude.

cognitive diversity

differences in mental process, perception, judgment,

categorization, rule of thumb, etc.

one

We think differently.

analyticalrationalrealisticfactuallogical

definitive

risk takercreativeflexible

synthesizerconceptual

intuitive

persistentplanner

organizeddisciplined

detailedpractical

passionatecooperativeempatheticexpressive

harmonizingresponsive

Ned Herrmann

Solving technical problemsAnalyzing complex issues

Logical approach

Interpersonal aspects of situationsIce breakers

Socializing in meetings

ConceptualizingInnovating

Seeing the big picture

Routine MeetingsDetails

Structure

Expressing ideasUnderstanding group dynamics

Team building

Logic ahead of feelingsNo interaction with people

Implementing ideasDeveloping plans

Follow-up and completion

“Blue Sky” thinkingNot following the rules

Joys

Frustrations

Joys

Frustrations

Joys

Frustrations

Joys

Frustrations

Cerebral Mode (abstract & intellectual thought)

Limbic Mode (concrete and emotional processing)

Left

Mod

eR

ight Mode

ANALYZE

ORGANIZE

STRATEGIZE

PERSONALIZE

Ned Herrmann

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us

to an understanding

about ourselves.-Carl Jung

countingmoney

spendingmoney

savingmoney

helpingthe others

Ned Herrmann

earnings diversity

marketshare

humanpotential

Ned Herrmann

get lost get funding

get insurance

get lucky

Ned Herrmann

financial strategic

tactical people

Ned Herrmann

“Forensic science using theundeniable facts of blood

type, fingerprints, andspectrographic analysis

of paint fragmentsproves beyond a doubt…”

Ned Herrmann

“This accident demonstrates the lethal combination of drunk

driving and faulty car design. These two issues are national in scope and deserve urgent

Congressional attention if future generations are to be

adequately protected…”

Ned Herrmann

“At 3:30 pm, Thursday, April 9th, on Route 9, 15 miles

North of Columbus, a black1978 Plymouth 4-door sedantraveling at 75 mph in a 35

mph school zone…”

Ned Herrmann

“Tearful, screaming motherattacks cowering suspect asirate police officer hold off

an angry mob at the terrifyingscene of a tangled school busand the accidents victims.”

Ned Herrmann

If everyone is thinking the same thing,

someone isn’t thinking at all.-General George S.

Patton

perspectives

Perspectives are ways of representing

situations and problems, how we

organize knowledge.

identity

diversity

heuristics

Heuristics are ways of generating solutions. Heuristics can vary in

their sophistication, and they can be immediate

reactions to situations or simple rules of thumb.

two

Thinking differently is

good.

1-survival

“…openness to the outside world, tolerance for the entry of new individuals and ideas,

and consequently a manifest ability to learn and adapt to new circumstances.”

The Living Company | Arie de Geus

2-new competitive advantage

Change is the engine of growth.

Sustainable, profitable change is fueled by

innovation.

Problems can become

opportunities when the right people come together.

-Robert Redford

"Innovation provides the seeds for economic growth, and for that innovation to happen depends as much on collective difference as on aggregate ability. If people think alike then no matter how smart they are they most likely will get stuck at the same locally optimal solutions. Finding new and better solutions, innovating, requires thinking differently. That’s why diversity powers innovation.“

-Scott E. Page, Professor, University of Michigan

3-better problem solving

The Difference | Scott Page

None of us is as smart as all of

us.-Ken Blanchard

4-conformity kills

5-human nature

three

Thinking differently is

hard.

stereotypesassumptions

labelscategoriesconformity

confirmation biasother cognitive biases…

If everyone is thinking the same thing,

someone isn’t thinking at all.-General George S.

Patton

how?

• Expect, look for and reward dissent.

• Devils advocate…practice it, enforce it, expect it

• Study and play with improvisation.

• Practice asking questions, get to know each other better

• Seek out people that do not fit in

I use not only all the brains I have,

but all I can borrow.

-Woodrow Wilson

high difference lowdifference

high interactio

n

learninggrowth

self-organization

stressconflict

exhaustion

celebrationreinforcement

energy

low productivitywasted energy

factions

low interactio

n

reflectionsafety

clearing the decks

isolationmisunderstanding

frustration

comfortbelonging

rest and recovery

boredomstagnation

deathDifference MatrixGlenda Eoyang HSDI

high difference

lowdifference

high interactio

n

move to low difference:Tell a joke.

State a shared value or belief.

Share personal experience.

Pick a low difference topic.

move to low interaction:

Stop communicating.Leave the area.Explain yourself.

Pick a low communication

topic.

low interactio

n

move to high interaction:

Ask a question.Use another medium.

Listen more.Pick a high

communication topic.

move to high difference:Amplify little differences

Play devils advocatePick a high

difference topicDifference MatrixGlenda Eoyang HSDI

resources• The Difference: How the Power of

Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies | Scott Page

• The Wisdom of Crowds | James Surowiecki

• A Whole New Mind | Daniel Pink • The Medici Effect | Frans Johansson• The No Asshole Rule | Robert Sutton

resources• Achieving Success Through Social

Capital: Tapping Hidden Resources in Your Personal and Business Network | Wayne E. Baker

• The Whole Brain Business Book | Ned Herrmann

• Competitive Advantage Through People: Unleashing the Power of the Work Force | Jeffrey Pfeffer

thank you!

joe gerstandt

www.joegerstandt.com

joe.gerstandt@gmail.comwww.twitter.com/joegerstandt

www.linkedin.com/in/joegerstandtwww.facebook.com/joegerstandt

402.740.7081

joe gerstandt

illuminating illuminating

the the valuevalue

of differenceof difference

inclusive culturesintentional relationsintegral leadership

innovative practices